Moments between 'Make up' and 'Pack up'

Our Kittu Sir (Prof. MR Krishnamurthy) of Kalakshiti celebrates every year his teacher Smt. Rukmini Devi Arundale's birthday. He has been telling us this right form our first class, we joined by Mid November 2008. Barely 4 months old, he made sure we join one of the group dances, it's a classical folk dance of Gujarath.

I don't recollect myself performing any dance on the stage in my past. Ah! imagine my plight ... but I was sincere in my attempts and went for all the rehearsals regularly. Kittu Sir would make sure we are there on every Sunday at 9:30 AM in our Dance uniform and practice till perfection. During this phase I could make friends with our dance mates, they are all bubbly girls aged between 19 and 25.

Finally came the D Day, we were told to shop all required accessories, make up items for the dance. It was big fun shopping in Bhavani Kangan. Bhavani Kangan is one stop solution for everything a woman wants. Srinath always accompanied me, very religious in taking me to the dance school and getting me back home. Thanks a ton Srinath! On Sunday, 15th March after final rehearsal with musicians I finished some more last minute shopping and resumed back at Kalakshiti at 2 PM. It was such a colorful atmosphere there ... senior dancers were applying make up on their faces and they asked us to start off. My hair was platted so long, perhaps for the first time and I loved it. A senior helped me dress up, I could not believe I am applying make up for the first time in my life! A lot of Kajal, a lot of rose powder I looked so different you know? Kakalshiti being a very organized school of art ... then asked us to wear dance costume and after all the decking up they offered us nice upma, jamoon, bonda and tea. Kittu Sir is always caring, he'll always make sure we eat well, dance well. He also made an important announcement that we must not spend time gossipping in green room instead we must remember Rukmini Devi and her contributions to the field of Art and only then step on the Stage. What a lovely advice!

In the green room of Kalakshiti I was thinking was this once Srinath's classroom? Because once upon a time when Srinath joined Pratibha Bala Mandira, Kalakshiti premises was his school. It's such a strange thing that today his wife, that is me ... a student in same premises, perhaps in the same class room, I wondered. A lot of chit chatting we did, waiting for our turn to step on Stage. As our seniors applied Atla (Red Color) on our feet and hands I was so excited ... it's every dancers dream to color her feet and hands and then perform. I was also sending a lot of SMS's to Srinath who was seated among audience asking if Mom has arrived, if Vaiju has arrived, etc.

Finally when we were called on Stage, it was a smooth flow. Many appreciated our dance and we managed to win many hearts. I was simply happy that it's over and I've done well. Back to green room I changed, somehow removed a lot of Make up and packed my belongings to join my family seated as Audience. In the night I cherished remembering all the moments I experienced between Make Up and Pack Up!